The Boss ME-25 multi-effects pedal provides a collection of additional sounds and features over the previous ME unit at the same price. This Boss guitar pedal includes a completely redesigned operating system which allows the entire product to operate in "EZ-Tone" mode, making the Boss ME-25 simple to use. There are added effects, COSM amp models, and a USB port for direct connection to computers. The ME-25 effects pedal is bundled with Cakewalk Sonar 8 LE and a DVD providing over one hundred audio loops that can be imported into Sonar for jamming or practice. The Boss ME-25's 60 onboard programs are organized into a Sound Library, which enables all the onboard tones to be selected simply by type. This built-in sound library gives you instant access to dozens of classic and modern effects. Simply choose a category, select a variation and play. You can customize your sound with simple twists of the Drive, Tone, and Volume knobs.

COSM (Composite Object Sound Modeling)Composite Object Sound Modeling-or "COSM" for short-is Boss/Roland's innovative and powerful technology that's used to digitally recreate the sound of classic musical instruments and effects. COSM analyzes the many factors that make up the original sound-including its electrical and physical characteristics-and creates a digital model that accurately reproduces the original.

I bought this guy to replace my digitech rp70. That digitech (incase you're considering other options) was worth the 80 i spent on it in sound and programming convenience, but was so cheaply...Read complete review

I bought this guy to replace my digitech rp70. That digitech (incase you're considering other options) was worth the 80 i spent on it in sound and programming convenience, but was so cheaply made. The pedals stopped working (a common problem with digi's) within 5 months. I decided I'd get something more durableI upgraded to the ME-25 because it has basically every effect you could want, with a looper and even a recording interface. The interface works great with sonar and the sound that comes from my amp is gorgeous. Crazy clear and full on a variety of effect channels.

The only thing that annoys me sometimes is that the adjustment of your effects channels use shared knobs, as opposed to a value up/down button like on the rp 70. This means that the same knob that controlls your treble or bass when adjusting the eq of your channel controls the level of reverb or delay or whatever else. The problem with that is you don't know exactly where your levels were if you decide to go back and change it, because that knob was very likely used to adjust something else.

Here's an example: I find a distortion I like then eq it with the preap adjustment and turn the treble knob to somewhat middle (lets say 50%), then I add delay and use the same knob to bring up the level of my delay to 80%, then use the same knob again to bring the reverb mix of the reverb effect to a saturated 90%. Now, i decide there's too much treble and go back into the eq settings. My knob is still jacked to the right from the reverb and the second I touch it, the level of treble jumps up to between 80 and 100 because i left it turned 90 percent for the reverb. If i want to actually turn down the reverb, i kinda have to guess where the level was before and go down from there (which is annoying because we all adjust using our ears). The box does disply a value as you turn the knobs, but in a sea of performace, recording, and jamming channels, there's no way in hell you're gonna remember it. The rp70 in comparison always displayed a number value and starts where you left it when you re-edit your channels. As for the ME-25 sometimes I start to confuse myself as to whether I just turned up or turned down an effect, because I don't really have any reference.

Also, the rp 70 goes silent when you use the tuner so you can tune during a song. Unless I haven't figured out how to silence it, the ME-25 goes to like a soft clean channel when you tune and you wouldn't want that interupting a song if you're tuning mid-song. You could bring your volume totally down with the expression pedal I suppose, but much like the adjustment knobs, you'd have to guess how loud you were before when you volume back up after tuning. not a deal breaker but a just touch annoying.

Still absolutely worth the $ i spent for it. The sounds coming out of it are gorgeous and the pedals seem pretty durable and long lasting. The whole box is a nice strong metal with these little rubber feet added as well. Way better thant he cheap little plastic rp70. It's also a great d/i preamp if you want some effects on recordings (although I'd recommend using an amp simulator post-recording).SO much stuff in it - tuner, dealy, reverb, noise gate, looper. However i will say there are only two reverb types (although they're adjustable) and the looper is pretty limited (no undo or single track delete - only record/add part and delete all). However everything is plenty customizable for totally worthwhile, custom sounds, and the looper is clearly just a bonus on an already solid pedal.Great aside from the programming (which i'll explain). well build and durableso much stuff for a measily price!

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Yet another middling Multi-FX Board

I bought the ME-25 with the intent of using with my PC for home playing and perhaps some recording.

I bought the ME-25 with the intent of using with my PC for home playing and perhaps some recording.

The interface is usable, but it leans heavily on three knobs which requires frequent manual consultations until you happen to memorize the scheme for the various effects and amp models.

Tones are varied in quality. The Clean amp model is bright and sparkly, whereas the Twin model is lacking some high end sheen compared to the real deal. The Marshall models are excellent for blues and hard rock, whereas the Boogie Combo model is laughably awful. The high gain amps models are pretty good for most Metal but are a bit digital sounding.

The OD/Distortion pedal models are fairly decent. They all sound digital, but good tone is there to be had with most of them. The modulation and Delay effects are typical Boss quality. The reverbs are good, but the lack of Spring reverb emulation is a bummer. The wah is usable enough.

The biggest issue I have found is digital clipping both when connecting it to my PC and also when using headphones plugged directly into the unit. Volumes have to be kept under 50% (sometimes well under) in order to avoid clipping. This can occasionally result in having to settle for a wimpier sound just to avoid clipping. It seems to be worst with cleaner sounds, though the heavier distortion settings may just be covering it up. The unit lacks any sort of master level control, so you are forced to adjust/balance volume settings for each effect or model that is active on a given patch.

Overall, the ME-25 is another mediocre to average Multi-FX board in a market full of them (*cough*Digitech*cough*).

The ME-25 is not a great choice for live use since the interfaces is a bit too convoluted to allow for quick edits. It (like most similar units) sounds fairly mediocre in front of an amp. Its best application is probably silent practice or recording, but the clipping issue and corresponding lack of an overall level control makes it somewhat frustrating there as well.

Mine will likely be sold soon, as I've found that I'd rather use one of the many small & cheap modeling amps out there than this unit.

I got this for Christmas last year. It was great to start with but unfortunately for performances it was terrible. Pretty much ALL distortion effects gave me terrible feedback and screeched when I wasn't playing. The reverb selections suck as well as the clean settings having only uses for rock and never blues or jazz. The delay effect was great but it took me forever to figure it out. Honestly I'd go with Line 6 or Digitech.

To be succinct, I am disappointed in this pedal, but I did buy a multi-effects pedal for a relatively low price. I found dialing-in your tone to be wearisome and aggravating, seeing you only have three knobs to adjust the pre-loaded tones.

The effects on the pedal are also very bland, I found it to be too passe and mundane for my taste. This pedal also does not feature any EQ, and I found the default EQ was too focused on higher-end frequencies. I personally use several dissonant chords and play music that incorporates feedback, but the high-end from this processor would leave my ears aching (I remedied this problem with a Boss GE-7).

I am a huge fan of Boss pedals, but their multi-effects is rather lackluster.

The most redeemable parts of this pedal is the on-board recording loops and freeze effect, but without a a proper tone, I did not find many good uses for these effects.

I bought the ME-25 with the intent of using with my PC for home playing and perhaps some recording.

The interface is usable, but it leans heavily on three knobs which requires frequent manual consultations until you happen to memorize the scheme for the various effects and amp models.

Tones are varied in quality. The Clean amp model is bright and sparkly, whereas the Twin model is lacking some high end sheen compared to the real deal. The Marshall models are excellent for blues and hard rock, whereas the Boogie Combo model is laughably awful. The high gain amps models are pretty good for most Metal but are a bit digital sounding.

The OD/Distortion pedal models are fairly decent. They all sound digital, but good tone is there to be had with most of them. The modulation and Delay effects are typical Boss quality. The reverbs are good, but the lack of Spring reverb emulation is a bummer. The wah is usable enough.

The biggest issue I have found is digital clipping both when connecting it to my PC and also when using headphones plugged directly into the unit. Volumes have to be kept under 50% (sometimes well under) in order to avoid clipping. This can occasionally result in having to settle for a wimpier sound just to avoid clipping. It seems to be worst with cleaner sounds, though the heavier distortion settings may just be covering it up. The unit lacks any sort of master level control, so you are forced to adjust/balance volume settings for each effect or model that is active on a given patch.

Overall, the ME-25 is another mediocre to average Multi-FX board in a market full of them (*cough*Digitech*cough*).

The ME-25 is not a great choice for live use since the interfaces is a bit too convoluted to allow for quick edits. It (like most similar units) sounds fairly mediocre in front of an amp. Its best application is probably silent practice or recording, but the clipping issue and corresponding lack of an overall level control makes it somewhat frustrating there as well.

Mine will likely be sold soon, as I've found that I'd rather use one of the many small & cheap modeling amps out there than this unit.

When I opened the box, and took out the ME25, I was surprised how small it was. The unit is very well constructed, though. My main use for it will be small venues playing Band In A Box or other accompaniment software through a small sound system, and so far, it has worked very well. I play just a few styles of rhythm/lead fill guitar, and the unit works great. My only con is that the AC adapter was not included.

I recently purchased this pedal not knowing if i had a made a good decision...Ive been playing for about 13 years and i have owned many effects pedals. I must say this little thing here is the best bang for the buck, MUCH better than line 6 in my opinion. ( even the more higher priced ones) geared more towards rock and metal and has really nice cleans, includes sonar software which is a nice add on as well as backing tracks. Great investment for all your in house needs.

The Boss ME-25 was surprsingly a really good idea to pick up. I originally intended to get the ME-75 but it was out of stock so i bought this which is basically the downgraded version of that pedal, in case you are looking to spend more. This pedal has 60 great effects, Acoustic and metal settings probably sounding best in my opinion. The only problems I had with this pedal was that I have a tough time editing effects, it ends up confusing me attempting to do it. Once you get a grasp on it im sure it's alot better I just didnt put much time into it. Another problem is that it runs on batteries, 6 double-A's to be exact and when they run out and you have no extra's you find yourself in a pretty bad situation. Other than that the pedal is EXCELLENT sounding, you get what you spend on it, worth every penny.

I had a Big M stompbox '75. Then a Wah-Wah pedal '78. Tube Screamers, Compressors, Distortion Pedals... all of them. Then came the Zoom 505 which started me with multi effects processors. I had a "Boss GT-10" when I first started recording; and then just recently I had a GNX Digitech 3000 that came with instructions for a super-collider.

I am happy to say that at 50 years of age, I am playing lead guitar in two Rock bands. One is classic metal covers and the other more mainstream rock covers and original music. I have a Marshall HD 100 Full Stack in the first trailer and a Crate 120 GXL Combo in my trailer. I have a Line 6 Interface for recording and playing at home plus a 30 Watt Bheringer Combo and I plug staight into the board at practice with the second band. I got tired of going for my lead channel on the 3000 and getting the loudest drum beat I've ever heard in my life. Then pressing it again and all the lights come on but no sound, press it again and now it says I'm taking a dump; so, I unplug it, wait, plug it back in, it sets up and i play through it the rest of the night...but I'm not touching it! I swear the ME-25 is the best piece of technology I've ever had in my set-up. I carry it in a laptop briefcase, AAA batteries are cheap, it super easy to use and if you like complicated then it's got that for you if you need it. The main thing is now I have some consistency in my sound whenever and wherever I go to play or perform and recording at home. I failed to mention that I sing in the second band also. So I stay busy enough all night. I need simple and reliable and toneful and state of the art. It looks pretty cool too. I am very happy with my purchase and using Boss again. BTW-I buddy recommend that I try going to a couple of local music stores on his tip while I was out one day. Let me just say, I have been using Musicians Friend faithfully for at least 13 or 14 years and I have never had a single problem ever with them whether shopping, or in delivery, or billing problems...nothing! And whenever it has been by phone or email we came in contact, response is always prompt, knowlegeable and courtious. Helluva concept! MF is my favorite music store!

I plugged this guy into a Fender Super Champ XD and, boy, was I amazed! On Amp 4 or 5 (or 7 or 10 etc...)it sounded awesome! The amp simulator was clear and vibrant and the distortions smooth and true to life (just like the original pedals). The eq effect (on the amp simulator) was great and complimented the distortion effects admirably. The modulator effects were clean and funky (phaser) and the delays were superb (just like the original Boss delays!). The reverbs were lush and interesting (there are two types of reverbs). Add a separate BOSS EQ and there was just no way to get the ME 25 to sound muddy! Yes, this is my experience. The ME 25 through the Fender Super Champ XD (using a Fender Blacktop) just sounded awesome! Clear, true to the original pedals, smooth and fantastic! That's what it really sounded like! I would recommend one based on this and on BOSS reputation alone.